The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-07-20
OVERCOME BY REM0RSE.
RUMORS THAT JAMES E. TANT AT
TEMPTED SUICIDE.


Mrs. Thomas Accuses Him of Taking
Lauds2um-Mr. TeHt Denies That he
Tried to Take his Life, and Says He
Was Only DrunE-The Story of the
Augusta Killing.
The startling rumor that James E. Tant,
the grandfather OF Willie Vineyard, had
attempted TO commit suicide on Sunday
was spread abroad yesterday. 1t was
stated that Mr.. Tant, overcome by re
morse at the outcome OF the case against his
grandson, had taken dose Of laudanum for
the purpose of ending his life; that he was
found by his family in dangerous condi-
ton, and tine greatest medical attention was
necessary to save his life A visit was paid
to Mr.. Tant last night and he was asked TO
give an account of the circumstances at
tending the case. He readily consented, in
fact he said he would be glad 10 do SO, and
he continued as follows:
TOO MUCH BEER.
81 have been greatly worried by what has
occurred during the last few days and the
strain ON me has been greater than | could
bear. l tried to brace up against it but it
was too much for me, and although l am
member of two temperance organizations |
began drinking Sunday morning The
liquor, that is the beer, did not not drink
whisky, was too much for me. | drank
more than [ ought To and
though my mind was perfectly clear, and
could have transacted my business, | was
under the influence Of the beer, and as soon
as got into the house | found was drunk.
My daughter, Mrs. Thomas, came up to me,
and when she Snelled my breath she
screamed and said had been taking lauda
mum. y physician was sent for and
was made to drink mustard water
and was put in a mustard bath, and ! don't
know what was done to me, but | vomted
and then they put me to bed. My wife says
that the doctor called again Sunday, but /
don't remember but one visit.
did not drink laudanum,
but l havc made n good many
enemies in this neghborhood, an d it is pos
sible that some one may haveput laudanum
in my beer, though 1 would not like to
charge any one with it. / did not attempt
to commit suicide, for, although I have had
great deal OF trouble, love my life.
THE AUGUSTA KILLING.
There is one thing that | desire to ex-
plain to the public, and that is point that
was brought out in Willie's trial 1t was
testified to that / had killed a man in
Augusta, and 1 did, but l was
tried by my country and acquitted.
After the war the negroes in Richmond
county were suing their former masters for
wages, dating the time for which they wer9
entitled to wages from LincOlns prOclama-
ton. There was a negro named James +.
Bryant, who was appointed judge under the
Federal government ana the husband of a
negro woman whom had owned, brought
suit against me for services. During the
trial ! spoke of the woman as Nancy as |
always had done and her husband said that
if l did not call her Mistress Robertson he
would have me sent to jail. The Judge
sustained him and | was committed
to Jail but managed to pre-
vent being locked up. Next day
| went to the courthouse, and though bay
onets were around the Judge as thick as
thOrns on a rose bush | took hickory and
whipped him until | made him know that
was a gentleman. His friend, a man
named Brennan, was angry with me for
what | did, and threatened my life.
KILLED WHILE SERVING WARRANT
'Some time after that went to his house
to serve a warrant that was sworn out by
his landlord for rent due. | was cautioned
before | went into the house that Brennan
had been making terrible threats against
me, but went in and he asked me to take
dinner with him. | told him that had
been to dinner. l served the warrant
| and said that if he would settle it
would charge nothing for service He said
that he would settle with me, and he then
struck me and knocked me off the porch.
saw him pick up a rifle that l had seen be-
hind the door, but before he could shoot l
| fired. l went for three doctors, and got
one of them to take his ante mortem state
| ment, and 1t was that statement that cleared
me. Those were the circumstances of the
| killing.
''As to this laudanum business, l did not
take any and would not say that any one
| put it in my beer. / am sorry | drank, be-
cause it is a disgrace upon me and upon my
| lodges, and | will not have an easy time
with them in getting through with the mat
| ter. knew that these reports were in cir
culation, but did not drink the laudanum
unless | did it without knowing it."